The nights are beginning to draw in and we are now technically into autumn, but it doesn’t mean we don’t still enjoy sitting out in our gardens in an evening trying to enjoy the last few dregs of sunshine that summer has left over for us.

Curtain poles and windows frames go hand in hand just like curtains and windows do, and when the curtains are drawn along the poles at night it gives us warmth and security, especially as the nights begin to close in and autumn approaches.

But what about when the curtains are tied back and we let the sunlight stream in, do we just leave the sill below the window blank? No, because as human beings we generally like to adorn our free space with things that look nice and the window sill is no exception.

One our team recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro during the summer for charity, which got us thinking quite romantically about Africa and also wondering how much this grand continent and all its different cultures has influenced the world of interior design.

Okay, so this article doesn’t have anything to do with curtain poles, but you might wish you could draw some curtains over your screen when you see some of the less than athletic pictures we have selected for you below.

In honour of the 2016 Olympics which are currently taking place down in Rio, Brazil, we thought we would take an irreverent look at some Olympic competitors, caught mid-action and, in most cases, in the most unflattering of poses.

Decorex International 2016 will soon be upon us, and once again it will be taking place in the wonderful location of Syon Park in London. This year’s exhibition will take place between the 18 – 21 September and is destined to live up to its reputation as the UK’s leading luxury interiors event for design professionals.

It finally appears like summer is here. After the mini heat wave we experienced in early June the weather looked to have typically reverted to the stereotypical British summer, with unsettled cooler weather (the golfers at The Open Championship last week even had to wear woolly hats and gloves).

But now, as we approach the latter half of July it looks like we might have some sunny weather after all, at least for a short while. So, now is the time to fling those curtains open wide, unlock the French doors, get the garden furniture back out and fire up the BBQ.